The Indian protest documentary ‘Farming the Revolution’ Takes Top Jury Prize At Hot Docs

Farming the Revolution Documentary: Nishta Jain’s documentary “Farming the Revolution,” depicting the struggle of Indian farmers against new legislation, secured the best international feature documentary prize at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. Premiering at Hot Docs, the film’s victory qualifies it for consideration in the Academy Awards’ Best Documentary Feature category. Another notable winner was “Death of a Saint,” receiving the special jury prize for international feature documentary. The film follows director Patricia Bbaale Bandak’s journey to her birthplace in Uganda, where her mother was tragically killed. Among other winners were Ismael Vasquez Bernabe, honoured as best emerging international filmmaker for “The Weavers’ Songs,” a documentary portraying weavers in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Pablo Alvarez-Mesa, who won the best Canadian feature documentary award for “The Soldier’s Lagoon,” exploring Simón Bolívar’s campaign in Colombia. Additionally, “Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story,” a documentary celebrating a pioneering Black trans performer, received the special jury prize for a Canadian feature documentary. The best social impact documentary trophy was awarded to Erin Lau and Amber Espinosa-Jones for “Standing Above the Clouds,” highlighting Native Hawaiian families’ fight to protect their sacred mountain. The ceremony, held at the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto, concluded a tumultuous edition of Hot Docs, marked by the sudden departure of its artistic director and programming team.

Farming the Revolution Documentary:

Nishtha Jain’s latest documentary, “Farming the Revolution,” is about the year-long farmers’ protest that unfolded in India during 2020-21. Premiering at Hot Docs, the film chronicles the phenomenal gathering of Indian farmers at the borders of Delhi amidst the COVID-19 lockdown to oppose newly enacted farm laws. The farmers feared the potentially harmful effects of these laws on government-regulated farmers’ markets, jeopardizing their livelihoods in the free market economy. Jain, acclaimed for her previous works like “The Golden Thread” and “Gulabi Gang,” offers insights into the tumultuous socio-political landscape of India during this period. She captures the resilience and unity of the protesting farmers, highlighting their non-violent approach to resistance amidst diverse challenges and organizational complexities. With funding from various sources and support from co-director and DoP Akash Basumatari, Jain navigates through 500 hours of footage to craft a compelling narrative that resonates both locally and globally. Despite potential hurdles in distributing the film within India due to censorship constraints, Jain remains determined to shed light on the farmers’ struggle through international platforms like film festivals and television channels. The filmmakers will encounter hurdles in distributing the film within India due to censorship constraints.

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